Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1887-11-11
: JOHN B. FINCH.


An AdGt1eSs Delivered bv Rev. j.
G.. Campbell at washington
Springs Nov 1887.
We pause in the midst of lifes con-
fiict, to drop a tear and add our humble
part in honor Of the brave and true
who have passed from earths toll to
heavens sure reward. Again the man
Mate has gone forth, and death, whose
s.tamop4' none can disobey, has taken
| not only one of our country's purest
and best, but the ackno wledged leader
in the growing army prohibitionists.
With the thousands throughout the
land, Wa too gather about our fallen
chieftail, whose recognized ability and
moral wbrth, endearea -t1im to every
lover of truth and right: 4. A mysteri-
GUS proyi lence says one: An lrrepara-
bic loss sd US another. But God is not
dead. ThP Workmen may be buried,
the best concerted plans come to
naught, ctr fondest hopes and bright
est vlsion| Of the onward march of
| Righteousness lie shattered at the
graves mouth But He whose ways are
past finding out, "Who maketh the
loud His chariot; who walk eth upon
the wings df the wind" around whose
pavilion gather clouds and darkness,
brings victlry out Of apparent defeat,
order out ot confusion and beauty out
OF chaos.
Dynasty'sirise and fall, earthly king
doms have their day and nations pass
away, Political parties, like the null
titudinous waves chase each other
over The deep and at last are engulfed
in stormy sea. But from the midst
Of all this chaos and confusion, change
and revolution, conflict Of ideas and
struggle Of love and hate, piety and
atheism, Justice and injustice for the
mastery, we behold the fair form OF
truth emerging from the storm: calm
and majestic is her face and beautiful
her faultless drapery of mercy and
love, as she takes her seat on the throne
of universal empire and declares to the
world that God lives, not only for Ills
own glory but for the overthrow of ey-
cry form Of vice and the establishment
Of every moral anG religious principle
that is designed to elevate, purify, bless
| opI rod oop, mankind
The lights may often burn low; our
poor blind eyes cannotsee the path; our
darkened intellects cannot understand
the ways of God among the sons of
men. But he who was transhgured on
the mount, died on Calyary's cross, who
was very God, is back OF all the confu-
sion, mystery and darkness Of earth,
controlling and overriding. subdueing
and overthrowing and in the end his
kingdom will rule the world. This is
our faith. stayed on One VINO is above
all; our assurance of success kept
bright and clear, when the curtain Is
rent and the leaders OF our cause diSap-
pear from sight. When the flashing
eye is no longer near to inspire us, the
heroic words no longer fall upon the
ear to nerve US for duty and for God,
we still hear the mandate of the great
King, "Ho, forward" and catch the
whlsperings Of His voice as it comes
down through the centuries, "LoI | am
with you always"
The lnimitaole Cough, the brave and
heroic Uaddock, the sterling and un-
compromising Finch and the unique
and marvellous Aiheck have entered
that kingdom where not a jarring
strain or discordant note disturbs its
harmony and where all is peace and
JOY and love.
In looking at the character we are
called to contemplate this sad hour, we
will give you brief sketch of his life
Born in Chenango county N. Y,
March 18th. 1852. He was admitted to
the bar in "a, when % years of age. In
rs he started through n. Y. state lee
turing on temperance and organizing
Ribbon clubs. In " he moved to Ne
braska and was the leader in the Red
| Ribbon movement. AS a result of his
labors that year, over 100000 took the
pledge. In rs he was elected G. w. c.
II. of Nebraska and in '84 he was elect
ed r.. w. G. r. this position he retained
until his death. Since 'S4 he has been
identified with the Prohibition party
and has labored earnestly and faithful
ly for its upbuilding. In "a he was
elected chairman of the national COM
mittee and if he had lived another year
| would have undoubtedly been nomina-
ted by the Prohibition party for the
presidency.
Then followed statement of facts
connected with his early life, training
and education, which conspired to pro-
ject this life SO clearly upon present
affairs, coming events, and our nations
history. We wish we could give to our
IL, r,,) "a